Adam the First (2024)

User Review

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  ScreenZealots

  5 / 10

  Writer / director Irving Franco‘s “Adam the First” is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve, offering an earnest and universal story that should resonate with most viewers. This rough around the edges drama has just the right amount of indie quirk to make it feel unique, but the amateurish writing and clumsy acting detract a bit from the dramatic impact.
  
  In this story about finding your roots, 14-year-old Adam (Oakes Fegley) sets out across the country in search of his birth father. Armed only with a piece of paper that has the scribbled names of men who may be his real dad, Adam’s adventure takes him to different cities and lives that could soon become his own. Along the way, Adam meets a variety of people that change his life in one way or another.
  
  This is a classic tale of self discovery that ticks all the boxes, but Franco’s script features a few original and unexpected encounters that feel fresh. The dialogue, on the other hand, is a mess. This isn’t a film that boasts the most polished script or performances, and both detract from the stronger elements of the story. The narrative is very slow to start and at first feels shallow, but finally Adam experiences a pivotal moment that propels his journey forward (and thankfully injects life into the plot).
  
  There isn’t much that makes this film memorable or a standout, and the road to get to the marginally satisfying payoff is bumpy. So much of the story feels like a string of missed opportunities to delve deeper into the characters and themes, but I appreciate what Franco is going for here. This isn’t a great movie, but it rings true and its heart is in the right place. I could see “Adam the First” finding a cozy home at a handful of low-level film festivals that cater to a niche audience.
  
  By: Louisa Moore for Screen Zealots

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